NEWS BRIEFS

Sistine Chapel to come alive in Dublin

The wonders of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel will come alive in a unique event in Dublin next week with renowned art historian Liz Lev.

Newman’s University Church on St Stephen’s Green will play host to the event on Monday, March 9 which will see guests walked through the art masterpiece that is the jewel of the Vatican.

Using visual displays with commentary by Dr Lev – one of the most prominent authorities on the art of the chapel – those present will be invited to enter in to the experience of visiting the chapel and understand it as both a spiritual and artistic experience.

Behind the Veil: Deciphering the Sistine Chapel will be held in Newman’s University Church, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 on March 9 at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Accredited youth work training for Down leaders

Photo above – Back row: Tim (Diocesan Youth Officer), Sarah (Logic, Moira), Adam (Kilbroney Intern), Jack (Holy Trinity Ballylesson). Front row: Rachel (Mount Merrion) Rachel (Kilbroney Intern), Mark (Bangor Parish), Daniel (Youth for Christ), Andrew (Ballyholme).

For the last six Wednesday evenings, the team at Down and Dromore Youth Council has been busy running OCN Youth Work Level 2 in Church House, Belfast.

The curriculum covers topics such as managing challenging behaviour, planning and organising sessions in a youth group, group work, the basic youth work curriculum and understanding your role as a youth worker.

The class of nine, which includes youth workers and volunteers, is enthusiastic about the course which requires a twelve–week commitment from January to April.

Rachel Irish–Colligan, Community Outreach Worker in Mount Merrion Church, says: “I have loved the course so far and it has really encouraged me that the work of a youth worker is so important in making a real difference to young people’s lives. Hearing each other’s stories about why we are all here proves the point. The way the course is delivered by Tim and the team is brilliant. There’s lots of time to talk things over as groups and to see and hear the different views and insights. I love the course material and the gleaning of personal experience from the leaders and other group members is invaluable.”

‘An absolute must’

Andrew Watson, Youth Worker at Ballyholme Parish Church, has been pleasantly surprised by his experience: “Having already worked as a youth worker for 18 months, and with years of experience volunteering before that, I didn’t think I would learn a whole lot on the OCN course. Thankfully, though, I was wrong! Every week I leave with a deeper understanding of things like inclusion, safeguarding, participation and even the very purposes of youth work. For anyone involved in youth work or youth ministry this course is an absolute must. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a whole lot along the way!”

This is the second intake for Level 2 and from next week the team will also deliver OCN Youth Work Level 3.

The OCN accredited courses are another element in the diocesan strategy of developing and up–skilling new leaders.

Find out more by contacting [ tim@downanddromore.org ]

Confirmation group’s parish lunch fundraiser for charity

On Sunday 1 March, the 21 members of the current confirmation group in the parishes of Douglas Union with Frankfield in Cork, hosted a soup lunch in the Canon Packham Hall. At the lunch €576 was raised for Cork Penny Dinners. They were assisted by their parents.

Beforehand they were involved in leading the worship in St Luke’s Church in Douglas. This service was attended by the Diocesan Youth Officer Hilda Connolly, who was also interviewed by the Rector, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson.

Movie nights out in Antrim

Antrim Parish Men’s Fellowship group members headed out for coffee and to watch the film ‘1917.’

The Rev Peter Blake, curate in All Saints’ Parish, Antrim, a keen cinema-goer, organised a couple of movie nights for parishioners which proved a big hit!

During February, Peter arranged a visit for the newly-formed Men’s Fellowship to the new Starbucks coffee house at The Junction and booked tickets for the 24 participants to see the Oscar winning Sam Mendes film 1917.

Peter also organised a similar evening for the ladies in the parish, and 47 seats were needed to accommodate all those who wished to see the newly-released movie Emma, an adaptation of the Jane Austin novel.

Both nights were a great success and Peter is planning a family night in March, a joint cinema evening for everyone in April, a wine tasting evening in May and a family outing/bbq in June.

Insights on 17th and 18th century church life

The ninth volume in the RCB Library’s texts and calendars series has been published by Four Courts Press. The Churchwardens’ Accounts of the Parishes of St Bride, St Michael Le Pole and St Stephen. Dublin, 1663–1702 have been edited by W.J.R. Wallace who for many years taught History and English Dublin’s High School. Ronnie Wallace is also the editor of Clergy of Dublin and Glendalough, Clergy of Meath and Kildare and of a history of The High School.

This volume complements Ronnie Wallace’s earlier edition of the vestry minutes of the parishes of St Bride, St Michael Le Pole and St Stephen which was published in 2011. Together they form a valuable source not alone for the study of Dublin parish life in the late 17th and 18th centuries but also for the ways in which the Church interacted with the life of the city of Dublin and beyond.

The book may be obtained through bookshops or from the on–line store on the Church of Ireland website: [[] www.store.ireland.anglican.org ]

God in creation